Can tear strip guide and measuring cup



Sept. 30, 1952 R. M. SNOOK 2,612,287

CAN TEAR STRIP GUIDE AND MEASURING CUP Filed April 4, 1950 Enventor 153065537. SA/OOK L 4; MM?

(Ittorneg Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PAQVTENTIOFFICE Roger M. Snook, San Francisco, Calif. Application April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,858

9 Claims. (Cl. 220-52) This invention relates to a can opener guide and, more particularly, to a device which is operable to act as a guide for the metal band of key opening cans and the like.

In cans of the type having a separable and detachable metal band disposed about the can body adjacent the lower edge of the lid, slotted keys are provided for the purpose of winding the band to open the can. In opening cans of this character with slotted keys, difficulty is frequently encountered owing to the fact that the reel or coil of the winding band often slips to one side or the other, which will occur unless care is exercised during this operation. Frequently this occurrence necessitates rewinding of the band, or else cutting it ofi to provide a short projecting end for taking a new hold on the band with the key.

These difficulties are extremely bothersome to the average householder. Also cuts frequently result from mishaps of this character, and even though the winding operation may be concluded successfully, the sharp, exposed edges of the winding band are always a hazard.

It is an object of the present invention to, provide an improved form oi guide for guiding a slotted key or other tool in opening cans of the character described. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide a can opener guide of the character and for the purpose described which will prevent the coil of winding band from slipping or from turning from its intended path.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a can opener guide of the character and for the purpose described which is operable to guide a slotted key and the coil of the winding band during the winding operation, which is simple in its construction and operation.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a can opener guide of the character and for the purpose described which can be re-used indefinitely.

Yet another object cf the invention is to provide a can opener guide of the character and for the purpose described which has associated uses other than that of a guide.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and appended claims.

Certain forms which the invention may assume are exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of one form of can opener guide constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same in the act of guiding a key and the coil of the winding band.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the can opener guide of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 3-3 oi Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of another form of can opener guide constructed in accordance with the present invention. I

Figure 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section taken along the line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown one form of can opener guide which is generally designated as [0. In Figure l, the can opener guide I0 is shown in conjunction with a can H havin a body l2, a lid I3 and a winding band l4. As is usual with cans of this character, a slotted key I5 is provided which is intended to fit over a loose end or tongue of the winding band to start the winding operation to open the can and separate the lid from the body.

As is well known, as the key I5 is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, the winding band I4 is formed into a coil I6 and as it is wound or detached from the can it leaves a peripheral groove II which separates the body l2 from the lid l3. This allows removal of the lid when the band l 4 has been completely detached.

As illustrated, the can Qpener guide It comprises a guide portion proper, which is indicated generally as l8 and will be referred to hereinafter as the guide, and this guide also serves as a handle for a measuring cup I9, there being provided, if desired, a reinforcing rib 20. The measuring cup l9 may be of any convenient size; for example, to measure out a teaspoon or tablespoon. It is apparent that the measuring cup [9 may be of any suitable shape, or may be replaced with some other suitable implement or design, or may be dispensed with entirely.

The can opener guide [0 may be molded in one integral piece from plastic, or it may be made from metal, or from any other suitable material of construction and by any suitable method. It will be apparent that the device can be manufactured at very little expense and in any desired quantity.

The guide [Bis a generally fiat, relatively narrow, elongated member. It is bent at its outer end into a U-shape to form a tail or end portion 25 which underlies the up'per body portion andis spaced therefrom to provide a groove or keyhole 26. As will be seen the end portion 25 is constricted, or bent inwardly at its outer end, as at 25a, to narrow somewhat the space between the end portion and the main body of the guide.

The guide [8 is also formed with a longitudinal slot 21 which is closed at its inner end and which extends to the end of the tail 25 so that the latter is, in elfect, a bifurcated member. A reinforcing bridge or rib 29 is provided, as illustrated, which is recessed at 30 and is formed with a tip 3| for a purpose described hereinafter. The under surface of the bifurcated tail 25 and the rib 29 is curved at 32 so as to conform, more or less, to the surface of a can body [2.

In use, the can opener guide i is employed as follows: The loose tongue (not shown) of the can winding band I4 is pried upward, :as by means of the tip 3|. A slotted key such as shown at l 5, is then fitted over the tongue in the usual manner and is given a turn or two to clamp it to the winding band and to place a fiat side of the key adjacent the can. Then the key is seated in the guide I8 in the manner shown in Figure 1, by slipping the bifurcated tail '25 underneath the key. Also, the guide 18 adjusted so as to register its slot 2'! with the coil l6.' The constriction at 25c although amply wide enough to easily admit the key I to the'keyhole 26, tends to keep the key in operating position. Hence, when the key is seated in thekeyhole '2Bl'it will have no tendency to unseat orgetout of position unless such result is desired intentionally.

After these adjustments have beenimadjegthe key is then turned to wind and .de'tahthe 'band )4 from the can body. .iDur'ing this operation,

" the guide I8 travels Tforwardfin relation to .and r at the same speed as the coil is being .woundiby the key, effectively guidingithe key .[5 land Jthe coil [6. Thus, lateral support is prov'idedfor the coil to prevent slippage or springing of v.the coil in an axial direction. Also, 'therguide 'isof su'fiicient bulk thatit will .resist turningof the key from its intended path of movementabout the unwinding band 1'4, and itscurved under surface 32 helps to guide it and the key and coil. Moreover, the guide also acts'tois'hield the Sharp edges of the unwinding band .and coil, thereby preventing hazards due thereto.

A further advantage of the device Off this invention resides in the 'fact that it Joan "he "very easily detached and re-used. This can beaccomplished by unwinding the coil L6,, or .merely'by moving the cup endo'f the device toward thekey with sufiicient force to pass thexkcy (with the coil) through the restriction of the ends offthe bifurcated tail 25, so as tore'lease the keyfrom the keyhole 26.

Referring now to Figures 4 and '5, a modified form of can openerguide Illa is there illustrated in which the guide portion 18ajissimilarlyjslotted at 21 and is formed at its outerendinto ,a .U- shaped, bifurcated tailor end portion25. However, an extension 35 is alsojprovided'which "extends outwardly from the bifurcated tail-25 and which is slotted, as at .36. Theslot 36jjoin's'and constitutes *a continuation 'of the slo t*2|. As shown,.ireinforcement ribs '38 may ialsobe provided.

This formrof device is advantageouswhere, becauseof thediameter of the c'an,"or'the thickness of the winding band, a coil of relativelylarge diameter is produced before'the opening process has been completed. .Thus, theslot 36, being an extension of the slot 21, accommodates a coil I6 of substantial i diameter.

, Itiwillthus be apparent that a can :opener guide has been provided which satisfies several objects. It is simple from the standpoint of manufacture and operation; it is re-usable indefinitely; it can be constructed from an inexpensive material and by inexpensive methods, such as molding from plastic; and it very effectively performs the function of guiding a key and the coil of removable sealing band.

I claim: c

1. A device of the character described comprising a member having a closed longitudinal slot formed therein to guide the coil of wind- .ing band as the same is detached from a can body and coiled about a key said member also having a surface for contact with said can ahead of said slot, and clip means transverse to and adjacent said slot and in registry therewith to rotatably receive and removably retain a key during detachment of said band and to permit immediate disposal of said key and wound band.

.2. .A deviceof the character described comprising a slottedmember forguiding the coil of winding band as it is detached from a can body and coiled about a key said member alSDhaving a surface for contact with said can ahead-of said slot, and a clip key retainer means in registry with the slot in said member and transverse thereto. .for.rotatably receiving and removably retaining .a key'permitting immediate disposal of saidkey with the wound bandi 3. A device of the character-described .comprising a "body member having -a closed longitudinal slot formed therein to-guide the coil of winding-band as the same is detached from a can body and coiled about a key said member also having a surface *forcontact with said can ahead of said fSlOt, and 'a transverseslot-tedkey retainer member disposed "below andspacedfrom said body member and in registry with the slot formed therein permitting immediate removal and disposal of said key with the wound band.

91. A device of the character describedcomprising a body member-having a'closed longitudinal slot formed therein to guide the coil of 'winding band as the same is detached from a can body and coiled about akey said member also having a surface for contact with said can ahead ,of said slot, and bifurcated clip key retainer means transversely underlying said body =member, spaced therefrom and'in registry with-the-slot formed therein.

5. A'device of the character-describedcomprising a fiat elongated member formed atgone end into a U-shape to define aclip recess'for-receiving a canjopenerkey, said member -being-als,o

=formed witha closed longitudinalslot transverse theretotoguide the coil of winding band asthe same is detached froma'can bodyandis coiled about a key said member alsohaving asurface for contact with said canaheadof said -slot,-said slot extending along saidimember onboth sides of said recess and being'open at one end 'to allow insertion, temporary retention and removal pfa can opener 'key with the detached wound band.

"6, A canopener guide comprising an-elongated, closed longitudinally slotted :body portion said member also having *a, 'surfacefor contactwith said can ahead of said slot and a relatively short bifurcated end portion underlyingone end of said body portion in registry therewith and spaced a short distance therefrom sufiicient to transversely receive and temporarilyretain a-can opener key and to immediatelyrelease the key with the wound band thereon.

:7, A-can openerguidecomprisingan elongated body portion having a closed longitudinal slot formed therein to guide the coil of winding band as the same is detached from a can body and is coiled about a key said member also having a surface for contact with said can ahead of said slot, and a, key retainer member fixed to and" at its outer end but closed enough to retain the key in position while permitting frictional removal of the key with the wound band thereon.

8. A can openerguide comprising an elongated body portion having a longitudinal slot formed 9. A can opener guide comprising an elongated body portion having a closed longitudinalslot formed therein to guide the coil of winding band as the same is detached from a can bodygand is coiled about a key said member also having a surface for contact with said can ahead of said slot, and a clip key retainer member fixed to said body portion intermediate the ends of said slot and spaced therefrom to define a U-shaped recess for receiving a can opener key, said key retainer member being bifurcated to form an opentherein to receive a coil of winding band as the same is detached from a can body and is coiled about a key, and a key retainer member fixed to and spaced from said body portion to define a U-shaped recessfor receiving a can opener key. said key retainer member being bifurcated to form a continuation of the slot in said body portion, said continuation being open at its outer end, said body portion being formed at one end with a prying member and having a measuring cup fixed to its other end.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 687.939 Moore Dec. 3, 1901 1,911,613 Epstein May 30. 1933 1,985,290 Hildebrandt Dec. 25, 1934 

